Skip to main content
Log in

Evaluation of Mathematical Models for Ordered Polychotomous Responses

  • Published:
Behaviormetrika Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In this paper, mathematical modeling is treated as distinct from curve fitting. Considerations of psychological reality behind our data are emphasized, and criteria such as additivity in a model its natural generalization to a continuous response model, satisfaction of the unique maximum condition and orderliness of the modal points of the operating characteristics of the ordered polychotomous responses are proposed. Strengths and weaknesses of mathematical models for ordered polychotomous responses that include the normal ogive model, the logistic model, the acceleration model and the family of ordered polychotomous models developed from Bock’s nominal model are observed and discussed in terms of such criteria. It was concluded that it will be better to leave Bock’s model as a nominal model as he intended it to be, without expanding it to ordered polychotomous models.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Birnbaum, A. (1968). Some latent trait models and their use in inferring an examinee’s ability, Contributed chapters in Lord, F.M. and Novick, M.R., Statistical theories of mental test-scores, Chapters 17–20, Reading, MA: Addison Wesley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bock, R.D. (1972). Estimating item parameters and latent ability when responses are scored in two or more nominal categories. Psychometrika, 37, 29–51.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Luce, R.D. (1959). Individual choice behavior, New York: Wiley.

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Masters, G.N. (1982). A Rasch model for partial credit scoring. Psychometrika, 47, 149–174.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Muraki, E. (1992). A generalized partial credit model: application of an EM algorithm. Applied Psychological Measurement, 16, 159–176.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Samejima, F. (1969). Estimation of latent ability using a response pattern of graded scores. Psychometrika Monograph, No. 17.

    Google Scholar 

  • Samejima, F. (1972). A general model for free response data. Psychometrika Monograph, No. 18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Samejima, F. (1973a). Homogeneous case of the continuous response model. Psychometrika, 38, 203–219.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Samejima, F. (1973b). A comment on Birnbaum’s three-parameter logistic model in the latent trait theory, Psychometrika., 38, 221–233.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Samejima, R. (1979). A new family of models for the multiple-choice item. University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN: Office of Naval Research Report, 79-4.

    Google Scholar 

  • Samejima, F. (1993a). An approximation for the bias function of the maximum likelihood estimate of a latent variable for the general case where the item responses are discrete. Psychometrika, 58, 119–138.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Samejima, F. (1993b). The bias function of the maximum likelihood estimate of ability for the dichotomous response level. Psychometrika, 58, 195–209.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Samejima, F. (1995). Acceleration model in the heterogeneous case of the general graded response model. Psychometrika, 60, (to be published in the December issue).

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Samejima, F. (in preparation). Virtues of asymmetric item characteristic curves.

  • Thissen, D. & Steinberg, L. (1986). A taxonomy of item response models. Psychometrika, 51, 567–577.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Fumiko Samejima.

About this article

Cite this article

Samejima, F. Evaluation of Mathematical Models for Ordered Polychotomous Responses. Behaviormetrika 23, 17–35 (1996). https://doi.org/10.2333/bhmk.23.17

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2333/bhmk.23.17

Key Words and Phrases

Navigation